How to Teach Computing: An Introduction to Concepts, Tools and Resources for Secondary Teachers

Please note that this course has concluded, although its content remains available for perusal. You can access the modules by enrolling in the course and clicking the "Modules" tab above; however, it is no longer possible to receive the course badge, the module badges, or the course certificate. Finally, please note that support for this course is no longer provided by the course instructors or the EUN Academy team.

"Coding is like the new literacy!"

Neelie Kroes, Vice President of the European Commission

Annoyed with students being distracted by their mobile phones? Tired of seeing students falling asleep after a night of gaming? Let's turn our students from passive consumers of technology into active producers of technology. Let's get them to develop apps, design games and start their own websites.

Technology is everywhere, if we like it or not. And nearly all future jobs require us to understand it. To respond to this, governments are including computing in national curricula, as a subject taught at all ages but also as part of other subjects. This means the responsibility is on to us, the teachers, because we need to teach it. In the UK already every primary school teacher has to teach computing concepts and in many other countries more and more of us will be required to teach computing or at least integrate computing concepts, ideas and processes into the teacher of our subjects. So let's get ready for this.

If you are a Computer Science teacher who needs new ideas, tools or resources on how to teach your subject. If you are an Art teacher who suddenly has to talk about website design, user experience and user interfaces in your subject. If you are a Biology teacher who has to teach your students how to programme sensors taking important measurements in an experiment. This MOOC is here to help you. We will be exploring the ideas, concepts, processes and skills that are important in computing and then introduce you to the tools, resources and lesson activities that can help you teach these concepts and processes in the classroom.

The course is designed as an introductory course, for you to use as a starting point to explore some of the ideas and tools further. It is relevant to secondary teachers from all subjects and all levels of experience. A basic amount of knowledge on operating computers and other technology devices is expected but you don't need prior knowledge of computing. The course lasts for six weeks and requires around 2 hours of work per week. The course has been designed by teachers for teachers and will feature interviews, presentations, and activities from teachers, professors, students and computing professionals.

Enrol in the course and join the discussion on our social media channels via the Facebook group and Twitter using #CScourse

This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of EUN Partnership aisbl and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union

List of modules

Course Introduction

Start date
02 Nov 01:01
End date
01 Jan 00:59

1. Why teach computing at schools?

Start date
02 Nov 01:01
End date
01 Jan 00:59

2. What and how are we teaching? Introducing concepts and methods

Start date
09 Nov 01:01
End date
01 Jan 00:59

3. How to teach computing? Using visual programming tools

Start date
17 Nov 01:01
End date
01 Jan 00:59

4. How to teach computing? Using game design tools & involving more girls

Target audience

The course is aimed at secondary school teachers but is open to anybody interested in the topic. While some of the activities presented in the course are more relevant for Computer Science teachers, the course is aimed at teachers from any subject.
Some basic understanding on how to operate computers and software is required for this course

Duration

The course lasts six weeks from November 3rd to 14th December

Start date

Monday, 3rd November 2014

Certification

For each module completed, participants are awarded a digital module badge. After completing the entire course, participants receive a digital course certificate and a digital course badge.